Chamber banquet honors community

November 18, 2003

Tony Parra

Award winners announced at Tuesday’s Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet have two things in common — they’re all successful and they all attribute that success to their community.
Robert Encinas, Dennis Edwards and Thom Moore spent the night in the spotlight at the Memorial Building.
Encinas, owner of Robert’s Television and Appliance, was presented with the Harley and Faye Borden Memorial Award.
“The award goes to someone who has really improved their business,” said Glen O’Rear, the chamber’s former president. “It goes to the business that remodels, improves and gives a little extra to Portales.”
Edwards, president of the Wells Fargo community branch, received the Workhorse of the Year Award.
Moore received the Warm Heart of the Sunbelt Award. Moore volunteers and heads up the Christmas Lights Program for Portales.
Robert’s Television and Appliance recently moved from a 3,000-square-foot building in the Sands Shopping Center to a 20,000-square-foot building at 509 S. Ave. C.
“It started out as a sad year,” Encinas said. “My dad passed away in February. We had been taking care of him for five years. I couldn’t do anything in business during that time. I was at a standstill. When he died it was time for us to do something in business.”
The new Robert’s Television and Appliance opened a couple of months ago and Encinas said the results have been encouraging.
“Everything fell into place smoothly,” Encinas said. “Portales has showed its appreciation. Our sales have increased.”
For Edwards, the chamber award was his second honor in recent weeks.
Eastern New Mexico University President Steven Gamble presented Edwards with the Business of the Year Award during the 28th Annual Friends of Eastern Foundation Breakfast during ENMU’s homecoming earlier this month.
“I think you get out of the community what you put into it,” Edwards said. “This community is full of wonderful people. The bank wants to be a part of the community.”
Edwards purchased land off of U.S. Highway 70 and donated it to ENMU.
ENMU will have a billboard on the land promoting the university later this year.
Moore has been involved in the Christmas lights program for seven years.
“I can’t think of anyone else who embodies this award more than Thom Moore,” O’Rear said. “People agree with me that he is at the top of the list. Anytime you need help with a project you can count on him.”
Moore said he and the volunteers have been working on the Christmas lights project since Oct. 20. They began decorating the buildings on Thursday. Moore said they have added 11 new buildings to the project and that the staff decorates approximately 90 every year.
“I think there are a lot of people in this room that are deserving of this award,” Moore said. “This really surprised me. This award means a lot to me and the other volunteers. We decorate more than 10 miles of light each year.”
There are 25 new chamber members this year, which brings the total to approximately 300 according to Kim Huffman, community development executive director of Portales.